Leg splint



J. J. ETTINGER Dec. '6, 1932,

' LEG SPLINT Filed Dec. 3, "1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 6, 1932. TIN R 1,890,372

LEG SPLINT Filed Dec. 5. 1951 2 Sheets-Sha e's 2 gwuentoz I, 2'7 331 pin/QM r such as fractures of the femur-,- tibia, fibula.

Patented Dec. 6, 1932 JOE marinara or Warsaw. m m

f 1 n ne sPIzIN'r Application filed. December 3, 1981. Serial No.578,83 2.

This inventionjrelates. to surgical ancesiand'has special reference to. a splint for the treatment of fractures of the lower limb oroscalciseither with skin traction or 'skele tal traction as with bone tongs, Steimnann pins or other apparatus ofthisnature.

More particularly theinvention relatesto' a splint of the general type of what is known as a Behler-Braun splint. s

In the construction of this type of splint as heretofore manufactureda pair of metallic frames. of trapezoidal shape are held in spaced relation by suitable cross members so that suitable fabric straps may becarried by the framesto support the, thigh; and leg portions: of they limb; The thigh supporting portion is. arranged to incline upwardly from the base part of the splint, the lower members of-I the frames carryingithe' lower extremities of the inclined portions. At the foot por-V tion of the splint there is an arch for the.

suspension of the patients foot in certain cases of, fracture. Suitable 'means are; pro- 3 vided for supporting pulleys on thisarch frame and on an extension of the tops of the side frames. r p Splints of this ty'pe heretofore manufactured, have lackedadjustability to 'fit: the

various positions necessary for various. types of fractures.

One defect found in former splints Ofthlijs kind is that no; provision is: made either for variations: in the lengths of the upper or thigh portions of different limbs nor is any provision made for adjusting the angularity of theinclined thigh portionof the splint.

In the present invention, however, the

femur supporting sectionnis adjustable, to a Wide Variation of angle from the horizontal and this: adjustment is accomplished by a simple, screw device which holds the, femur supporting portion in anydesiredposition. Furthermore, this adjustment is of such character that the femur portion or the splint is adjustable independently of the remainder ofthe splint whereby'the canvas supporting straps or slings can be brought snugly into contact with the posterior aspect'of the thigh. This adjustmentcan only be attained is, due to-the fact that the .verticalirods are lengthsoffemurs; 1 "I -Iti;isldesirablel that traction be. capable of 7 f 1 being: exerted'on the broken bone in exactly fi the line necessaryto maintain the broken sec- -tions in natural alignment. To accomplish V cords may pass. By this'adjustment'of' the foot orankleat a particular angleg 'Ihistraction cords. In --addition this nbsepor;

in the usual formof splint by the rearendoftthe splint by ilnproivised;

means,,suchas boards or books; P r

Also the side'rodsiofgthiss section are, inthe present, invention, adjustable in length; to accommodate different lengths of femurs. In'thisconnecti'on the uppermost, canvas-sling is 'cutbn the bias o with the, wider end on the outside of the femur to givemore support to thatsideythe 99 wide end being shifted fromflonesideztojthe used on theright or'left leg. if V w 1 A further object attained: by the .pres'ent inventionis that the femur section of 'the other according to whether the splint is to-be splint is so supported and arranged that the i use of a bedpan is notiinterfered .withsince the lower'fra'me parts terminate beneath the knee supporting-portion-of the splint. l 1

Ayfurthenobiect attained by this invention extensiblejso that-the femur and leg portions ing the-range of'angular adjustmentofzthe femur supporting portion. of the splint and also aiding in the accommodation of'jv-arious this object the present invention is provided {of the splint mayfibe bodily adjusted for height,this'adjustment for height mamas-" with archessupported fromthe upper bars 7 of the frames andadjustableboth'longitudie arches-carry pulleys over which the traction.

pulleystthe" surgeon. is enabled 'to produce traction in exactly'the direction desired regardless of the the angle of the-same.

Q5 nally of'thes'e bars and I for height and-these At times; incertainfractures of; the legend ankle, it is desirable to apply "traction to :the

object is'zaccomplis'hed by' arranging thegnose or -frontportion of the splint and is also angularly-adjustable by means similar .to those employed for the femur :portion. This nose carriesltheusualwheels forsupportinglthe, 100

r 2i i wtiontis extensible so that the wheels may be tion and combinations of partsillustrated in the accompanying drawings, fully described the device.

in detail and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawmgs like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and: a Figure 1 is a perspective view of the splint- .in'use'. I i N j V i Figure-2 is-a vertical section on the longi tu'dinali'medianplane ofthe splint, the section'showing particularly the femur support 1 ing portion fof the frame. 1

- Figure 3 isaview similar to Figure 2 but showing a'portion of the front or nose end of In the form of the invention here disclosed there-'is lprovided a pair of lower side frame members 10 which are held in laterally spaced relation'aby crossmembers 11. From these side members 10, adjacent their ends, rise the vertical posts 12 which are threaded and have their uppe'r'parts slidably received in vertical itubularx upper post sections 13. Butterfly adjusting nuts 14 are mounted on the lower posts 12 so'thatjthe height of the posts may be regulated. The upper ends of the sections 13 atieach side are connectedbyan upper "side bar li and these side bars extend beyond the postsat each end@ At the" thigh or femur f end 'ofea'ch bar 15 is a pivot 16 and on these pivots are connected the side members 17 of theifemursupport; the's'eside members being, connected by an inverted archi'like cross-bar fli8a i-Also the rear tubular members '13--are 7 connected by across-bar 19. On this-bar 19 is mounted a sleeve 20 to which is welded or otherwise fixed a second sleeve2 1 whichfexd t Tightangls t9 the Sleevfigov 'as shown {in Figure 1 Weights W carried 5 voke or cross member 18is mounted a swivel 22 to-which is pivoted the rear .end of a nut; which'bears on therear end of the sleeve I 211controls the angular positionipf' thefemur supporting frame; It will be 'notedtithat'the members 17 are'tubular and internally-thread supporting'frame can-be lengthened or shortenedasthecase may'require; v "Similarly, at the front ends of-the frame 1 members15 are pivots 26 to which are connected the forward ends of frame extension t v V j v vention without departingfrom the material y members 27 which are. connected by: a cross Jbar'f28j The upper members 13:a't,-this end 7 ;,-are; connected a cross bar 29 on which is a' sleeve 3 0jcarrymgj across sleeve 31. A swivel ,7 tion.- ,threaded adjusting bar23 and=on this bar is mounted a butterfly nut 24. As can be'clearly :seen'from Figure 2 the adjustment of this 32 is mounted on the cross member 28 and pivotally supports the front end of athreaded a adjusting rod 33 which passes through the j j Y sleeve 31 and on which is mounted a butterfly 7;0

:frontframe as the nut 24c at therear. Slidnut 34 which serves the same purpose for the justed position by the thumb screw 36. Pul-- leys 37 are carried by this nose; I

Clamps 38 "are slidably mounted on the frame members or bars 15 and in these clamps are mounted the legs of arches 39, each clamp 7 having a' single thumb screw 40 by which the clamp is screwed in adjusted relation on the member 15 and the arch leg issimultaneously secured inr vertical adjustment in the" clamp.

The arches 39 carry at their tops the 'pulley wheels 41L Sling straps 42 connect them'em bers' 15 andalsoconnect the members .17 and Y I In Figure 1 the splint is shown as being used with a patient having fractures of the right femur and right tibia, for instance. The femur supporting frame is adjusted in length to suit theupperlimband to the' angle desired by the, attendant surgeon,-the vertie cal posts being adjusted in height to allow 7 such adjustments without bringing' theends of the members 25 intocontact with the bed,

The rearlarch 39 is adjusted on theirods 15 j and forhei'ght to bring the pulley 41 carried I e by it to proper position and is there secured.

Traction straps S are adhesively aflixed to the 1 lower part of the -vthigh-and are "carried through-a stirrup or loop. L to which con j 'nect'ed a cord Cwhich extends'over thepulley 41 and the front pulley 37 ,tlie'extensible nose frame being'adjusted for this purpose. "For the'lower {leg traction is-exerted by an ad 7 Jhesive strap S extending through the stirrup j L to which is connected a cord runningover the rear'pulley37; jThe'front'archf39 may be used'to support the toe portion of the foot by the cords exert'the proper amount'of trac-' 'Whileone arrangement of the parts i 7 shown in Figure 1 itisobvious that the wide adjustability of the splint w enables it to'v be used to great advantage in 'practicallyj all shown in Figure 1.

fractures ofthe lower limb and it is to be i understood that the utility of the splint is by no means confined to Thereha's'thus'beenprovided a simple and" efficient} device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It isobvious that' 'minor changesimaybe 5.1

made in the form and. construction of the into confine the invention to theiexact' form 's'piritthereof. It isnot,"thereforepdesired.

to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what posts consisting-each of an upper and a lower! member movable relatively one to the other and means forholdingthe posts in extensibly adjusted positions, said frame also'including upper longitudinal frame bars each connecting the upper membersof a pair of the posts to form one side of the splint, an extension frame hinged to the longitudinal bars at one end of the splintto swing topdesired vertical angles, and means connectingthe extension frame with the upper member of the adjacent posts to ho-ldthe extension fram in angularly adjusted position. V 2. In a splint of the kind described, a main frame including verticallyextensible posts consisting each of an upper and a lower member movable relatively one to the other and means for holding the posts in extensibly adjusted positions, said framealso including upper longitudinal frame bars each connecting the upper members of a pair of the posts to form one side of the splint, an extension frame hinged to thelongitudinal bars at one end of the splint to swing to desired vertical angles, means connecting the extension frame with the upper memberof the adj acentposts to hold the extension frame in angularly ad-' justed position, a second extension frame hinged to the longitudinal bars atthe oppo site end of the splint to swing to desired vertical angles, and means connecting the second frame with the upper member of. the adjacent posts to holdthe second frame in adjusted position, one of said extension frames being provided with sling straps and the other with traction cord wheels. g

3. In a splint of the kind described, a main frame including upper and lower longitudinal frame bars, said frame also including extensibly connected upper and lower post members rigidly fixed respectively to. the upper and lower longitudinal members; extension frame members pivoted to the upper frame bars at one end of the splint for adjustment to desired vertical angles, means carried by the adjacent upper post members of the main frame and connected to the extension frame members for supporting-the extension frame members in angular adjusted position, clamps slidably mounted on said upper bars, an arch having legsextending 'member movablerelatively one to the other and means for holding. the posts in extensibly I adjusted positions, said frame also including 1 upper longitudinal frame bars each connecting the upper members of a pair of the posts to form one side of the splint, an extension frame hinged to the longitudinal bars at one end of the splint toswing to desired verframe with the upper memberof the adjacent posts to hold the extension frame in angularly adjusted position, clampsslidably mounted on said bars, an arch having legs extending tical angles, means connecting the extension through said clamps for verticaladjustmentj therein, a traction cord-pulley carried by said arch, andmeans to'secure the clamps in adjusted positionson the barsandthe arch in adjusted position in the clamps.

v 5. In a splint of'the kind described, a I a a main frame including vertically extensible posts consisting each of an upper and a lower member movable relativelyone to theother and means for holding the postsin extensibly adjusted positions, said frame alsoincluding upper longitudinal frame bars each connecting the upper members of a pair of the posts to form one side of the splint, an extension.

frame hinged to the longitudinal bars at one end'of the splint to swing to desired vertical angles, means connectingthe extension frame vwith the upper member of the adjacent posts to hold the extension framejin" angularly adj ustedv position, a second extension frame hinged to the longitudinal bars I at the opposite end of the splint to swing to desired vertical angles, means connecting the second frame withthe upper member of the adjacent posts to hold the second frame in adjusted position, one of said extension :7 frames being provided with sling straps and the other with traction cord wheels, clamps slidably mounted on said bars, an arch having legs extending throughsaid clamps for vertical adjustment therein, a traction cord pulley'carried by said arch, and means to secure the clamps in. adjusted positions on r the bars and the arch in adjusted position in I the clamps.

In testimony whereof aflix my signature; i n5 JOE J. ETTINGER.

through said clamps for vertical adjustment justed positions on theupper bars and the arch in adjusted position in the clamps.

4. In a splint of the kind described, a

main frame including vertically'extensible posts consisting each of an upperand a lower iao" I I 

